Click here for Full Issue of EIR Volume 20, Number 16, April 23, 1993 question quoting at length from EIR and L'ltalia, and asking the government about the meeting on board the queen's yacht. After that, the story, this time a real scandal, broke out widely in the press. How the 'revolution' Another member of Parliament, Raffaele Tiscar (DC), has raised a similar interrogatory, quoting EIR's dossier. A member of the government,Treasury Director General Mario in Italyunfolded Draghi, has admitted that he was on the yacht, but claims by Claudio Celani that he left early-unlike other cabinet members who stayed. EIR has learned that the cabinet member Draghi referred to is Beniamino Andreatta, present budget minister and leader The London Economist calls it a "revolution" that has bro­ of the radical privatizers' faction. This information was used ken out in Italy, and cheers at the destabilization of the by Parlato for a third parliamentary question. Italian state that has developed over the past two years. I n the Even Giulio Andreotti, a man famous for his "flexibility" chronology that follows, we trace the assault on Italy, the (i.e., compromises with the Anglo-Americans), started to efforts that certain nationalist forces are making to block it, accuse "international financial circles" of being behind the and the role that EIR and Lyndon LaRouche are playing in attacks against him and the DC. The leaders of the DC groups that battle. in the House and the Senate sent a joint request to the Rome prosecutors to investigate a suspected "conspiracy" against 1992 "republican institutions." Feb. 17. Beginning of "Operation Clean Hands" (Mani Such steps break the controlled environment established Pulite). Mario Chiesa, a Socialist Party-connected manager by the Anglo-Americans, which forces Italian leaders to fight of a home for retired people, is arrested while taking a kick­ one another in the belief that their enemies, or those who pull back of7 million lira ($4,000) for a cleaning contract. Using the strings of the destabilization, are to be found inside the a recently introduced "American-style" criminal code, such country. This is only partially true, since they are so only by as plea-bargaining, the magistrates offer him his freedom in being, as LaRouche said, assets of Anglo-American net­ exchange for revealing the names of others who are eventual­ works. ly implicated in the corruption case. Chiesa is reported to be Before Easter, when L'ltalia magazine again quoted head of a local masonic lodge. The "sting" against Chiesa EIR's analysis of the destabilization of Italy, La Voce Repub­ was carried out by Carabinieri police captain Roberto Zulia­ blicana, the organ of the Republican Party, a party which ni, who will lead all subsequent "Milanogate" operations, in has always supported the IMF line for Italy, responded with tandem with Judge Antonio Di Pietro, until November. To fury, attacking the editor of L'ltalia, while quoting only obtain "proof' from witnesses, the investigators simply keep from ElR-although without mentioning it. Indeed, EIR has them in jail until they talk. Often "confessions" are recorded touched exactly the right nerve. in the absence of any defense lawyer. The credibility achieved by LaRouche and his movement March. In the middle of the election campaign, Socialist has brought 63 members of the Italian Parliament to sign a Party leader and former premier Bettino Craxi, announcing call to President Clinton to free the American political prison­ his candidacy for leading the next government,gives an inter­ er. The signatures were presented on April 2 in the Italian view to Corriere della Sera in which he pushes for a big Parliament, by Emma Bonino, secretary general of the Radi­ infrastructure development plan for Italy. cal Party, and by Flaminio Piccoli, a senator and historical March 12. Salvo Lima, the most powerful Christian leader of the Christian Democracy (EIR, April 16, p. 30). Democrat in Sicily, is assassinated by the mafia. Flaminio "The campaign against LaRouche," Piccoli said, "occurred Piccoli, a senior Christian Democratic leader, writes that largely because he annoyed the big American corporations, the murder reflects a "strategic design" in the interests of because, had he become President, he would have limited someone who wants an Italy removed from Europe. their power." "I am convinced," Piccoli said, "that many of March 21. Grand Orient master Giuliano Di Bernard!> the things occurring in our country are due to mistakes by orders the dissolution of the American covert freemasonic political responsibles, but largely also led and directed by lodge Coloseum. Di Bernardoannounces that he will vote for those who are interested in weakening Europe." Claudio Martelli, Craxi's rival in the Socialist Party (PSI). If they want to save their nation, Italian leaders will have March 29. One week before the elections, the Economist to tum their resistance into a policy that will promote a real magazine of London invites Italians to vote for the Northern economic recovery, by abandoning the IMF's recipes, as League. The Italian state must be reduced to "rubble," the well as illusions of about a European free-market zone, and magazine says. instead adopting LaRouche's "Productive Triangle" ap­ AprilS. Parliamentary elections. The Lombardy League proach. is the winner, but the traditional parties could still maintain EIR April 23, 1993 Investigation 53 © 1993 EIR News Service Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission strictly prohibited. dermining the stocks and bonds of the Italian state and private companies traded on the stock exchanges. June 2. Secretive meeting takes place on board Queen Elizabeth's yacht Britannia in Ithe Tyrrhenian Sea, of the top financial and economic leaders of the Anglo-American establishment, with high-level I anagers of the Italian state and private companies, and higH officials of the government, to plan the privatization of the Iialian state-run companies. June 11-12. Meeting at the I gnelli Foundation, in Turin, to discuss "macro-regions," and the possibility that the north­ 1 ern Italian region defined by t e Po River (Padania) could become an entity in itself. Among the participants is Northern League ideologue Gianfranco Miglio. June. The number of accu�ed prominent businessmen and politicians rises to more thkI n 40. Police announce that a �rominent Socia!ist, Deputy oroni, killed himself after . gomg to see mvesttgators. r July 17. The Italian government announces that it does not intend to guarantee the deb� of the state company EFIM outside of Italy (about $6 billioh The government offers to repay 80% of the debt, at a 10Jer interest rate. The govern­ ment's argument is that by ha ing given loans at a market interest rate, the creditors kn9w they were taking a risk. International banks refuse to negotiate on this basis. Former Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, considered to be the July 19. Judge Paolo B0rsellino is assassinated in most powerful man in Italy, is now under investigationJor alleged Palermo. ties to the mafia. He blames people in the United StatesJor the July. Chamber of Deputies Iagrees to wai ve parliamenta­ assault under way against the Italian political system. l ry immunity of five MPs. A total of 13 MPs and former ministers are now under investikation by Milan magistrates. a limited majority to form a new government. Bettino Craxi Nine more are being investigated in other parts of the country. is the main candidate for the office of prime minister. Salvatore Ligresti, the king of donstruction in Milan and one May. The scandal enters its third month, with the charg­ of Italy's richest men, is arrest�d. He will stay in prison for ing of two leading figures in the construction industry. Six several months, until he decidek to confess. other prominent people in the industry have already been July 27. Lombardia Autonbmista, organ of the Lombar­ charged. Enzo Papi, managing director of Fiat's large build­ dy section of Northern Leagub, reports that the American ing subsidiary, is detained. In all, 26 businessmen, municipal magazine Telos, edited by Pau Piccone, dedicates 80 pages officials, and local politicians have now been arrested on to the League, pushing it as a model for the rest of Europe, corruption charges. "an alternative to the more abd more discredited central April. Francesco Cossiga resigns as President of the Re­ state." public. The new Parliament will have to elect a new President Aug. 13. Moody's downg I ades its rating of the Italian before voting for a new government. economy from AA-l to AA-3. May 23. Judge Giovanni Falcone is assassinated. The Aug. 23. U. S. Schiller Insftute leader Amelia Robinson U. S. FBI offers to aid in investigations. Justice Minister speaks in Rimini on the LaRouche case, receiving coverage Martelli accepts. Former New York U. S. Attorney Rudolph in the national press. Giuliani intervenes, suggesting that the death penalty be ap­ August. International speculationI against the Italian lira plied. and other European currencies begins. I May 25. Oscar Luigi Scalfaro is elected President of the Sept. 13. After the first wave of massive attack, the Republic. Italian government and the BaJk of Italy decide to devaluate June. The outgoing minister for public works is served the lira by 7%. The stock exch�nge in Milan is closed down. notice by Rome's magistrates that he is under investigation. Italy leaves the European Mon�tary System (EMS). Craxi agrees to withdraw his candidacy for the post of prime Sept. 16. Black Wednesd�y. After a second, stronger minister. Giuliano Amato, also a Socialist, forms a gov­ wave of speculation, the Italiap lira is devalued once again.